ANNUAL REVIEW 2007/08 · 3 DEAT ANNUAL REVIEW 2007/08. Great strides have been made in establishing the legal instruments for dealing with waste, air pollution and the integrated

DEAT ANNUAL REVIEW 2007/081

Environmental Affairs and TourismDepartment:

REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

ANNUAL REVIEW 2007/08Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

DEAT review_11pt.indd 1 5/12/2008 3:31:17 PM


Our vision is a prosperous and equitable society living in harmony with nature



62 South African Tourism - Accelerating tourism growth

66 Tourism Grading Council of South Africa - Standards for a quality destination

68 South African National Parks - Conserving our heritage

72 South African National Biodiversity Institute - Protecting our national biodiversity

76 iSimangaliso Wetland Park - Developing a national treasure

80 South African Weather Service - Forecasting for economic growth

84 Important contact details

STATUTORY BODIES

10 Tourism - Building wealth through tourism development

18 Environmental Quality and Protection - Enhancing quality of life

26 Biodiversity and Conservation - Integrating humankind and nature

34 Marine and Coastal Management - Nurturing our living waters

40 Sector Services and International Relations - Promoting South Africa’s international priorities

50 Corporate Affairs - Supporting the achievement of strategic goals

ContentsANNUAL REVIEW 2007/08

BRANCHESOur vision is a prosperous and equitable society living in harmony with nature

2 Foreword by the Minister

3 Preface by the Deputy Minister

4 Introduction by the Acting Director-General

8 Vision and mission

9 Overview - DEAT in a nutshell


2DEAT ANNUAL REVIEW 2007/08 3

Its achievements were significant. Some 10 000 non-hotel accommodation establishments have been graded. This is well ahead of the target for the tourism sector. The Coastal Management Bill was tabled in Parliament and the allocation and management of long-term fishing rights in 20 commercial fishing sectors were finalised. This will contribute to the sustainable use of the country’s marine resources. Following very successful international negotiations, the development of Long-term Mitigation Scenarios commenced. This will ensure that South Africa has a sound basis on which to plan its climate change response and will contribute to the development of a National Climate Change Response Policy. The Threatened or Protected Species Regulations were implemented and the Norms and Standards for the Sustainable Management of Elephant Populations developed. Furthermore, border posts were opened in the !Ai-!Ais/Richtersveld and the Kgalagadi transfrontier parks.

The department is also proud to announce that the Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape has been added to South Africa’s list of world heritage sites.

As my term of office draws to an end, the department’s main challenge for 2008/09 is to consolidate its work of the past three to four years. I would like to thank all our environmental and tourism stakeholders – locally, regionally and internationally – for their efforts and cooperation during the past financial year. The future prospects of our people, and the quality of life they enjoy, depend greatly on the work that is done by this department.

I am confident that the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism will continue to deliver on its mandate with the best interests of the nation at heart, and to do South Africa proud.

Marthinus van SchalkwykMinister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

The 2007/08 financial year has been a busy yet productive year for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. It was faced with many challenges in complying with its overall responsibilities. These are to promote the sustainable development, management and use of South Africa’s environmental resources, and to promote and develop the tourism sector.

Foreword by the

MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK

minister

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Great strides have been made in establishing the legal instruments for dealing with waste, air pollution and the integrated management of the coastal zone. The Waste Management Bill (currently serving before Parliament) will ensure that waste management becomes everyone’s legal responsibility. A study to assess the capacity of municipalities to manage waste will be followed by practical steps to assist municipalities to develop and implement waste minimisation strategies. The Air Quality Act (which was also promulgated) resulted in the Vaal Triangle being declared a priority area. Not only were air-quality monitoring stations installed, but an Air Quality Management Plan is also being implemented. The Integrated Coastal Management Bill (which is also being considered by Parliament) will give legal impetus to the department’s programmes to combat sea pollution due to land-based activities. This Bill will also ensure equitable access to socio-economic opportunities and benefits derived from coastal resources.

The department will continue to implement job creation initiatives through the sustainable utilisation of environmental resources with its social responsibility programme. This will augment efforts to combat desertification and rehabilitate ecosystems such as wetlands.

With the approaching 2010 World Cup, marketing initiatives are attracting millions of tourists. To ensure equitable distribution and sharing of the benefits generated by tourism, the country must double its efforts to roll out community-based initiatives. Internationally, South Africa continues to advocate for the collective protection of the environment and for the greater involvement of women in policy formulations. Of particular significance is the hosting of the 12th session of the African Ministerial Conference on Environment, where policy issues on international environmental governance in Africa will be discussed.

I sincerely believe that the implementation of the department’s well-researched and synthesised strategic plan will take this department to greater heights.

Rejoice MabudafhasiDeputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

The remarkable achievements of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism for 2007/08 can be attributed to ever-improving planning, coordination and implementation. Looking back on this final year of the current government’s term of office, it is with pride that we can say that the department has not failed the public in achieving its constitutional obligation.

Preface by the

REJOICE MABUDAFHASI

deputy minister


4DEAT ANNUAL REVIEW 2007/08 5

‡ A policy on aquaculture (fish farming in marine environments) was finalised, contrib ting to growing the fisheries sector as an alternative to the challenge of diminishing fish stocks in the wild.‡ Equally, in this period, a difficult but necessary decision was taken to close the abalone fishery in order to create conditions for the recovery of this resource.‡ In promoting sustainable use and ecosystems management, the norms and standards for the management of elephant populations were published.‡ The Long-Term Mitigation Scenario (LTMS) planning was completed, which lays the basis for the development of a national climate change policy.

Administration

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism received an unqualified audit opinion for the 2006/07 financial year. Based on the Auditor-General’s interim audit, the department can expect an unqualified audit opinion for 2007/08. The department’s annual expenditure was at about 99% and expenditure on BEE was over 56%. A balanced scorecard approach to organisational performance management was introduced to maximise employee value contribution to the achievement of organisational goals. The department also initiated the implementation of the Master Systems Plan during the 2007/8 financial year.

Functional support structures and systems have been put in place to address the HIV/AIDS challenges. Vacancies were reduced from 25% to 20% and 1.7% of the entire organisation’s staff complement comprises people with physical disabilities. The department has formalised its channels of engagements with organised stakeholders, with dedicated forums for engagement with stakeholders in the fisheries, biodiversity and environmental management sectors.

The 2007/8 financial year has been both an exciting and challenging one. Some of the key achievements in the execution of the department’s annual business plan included:

Introduction by the

NOSIPHO JEZILE

acting director-general



Environmental Quality and Protection

As a result of the implementation of the new EIA regulations, over 90% of all new EIA applications were processed within regulated time frames. Six air quality monitoring stations were installed in the Vaal Triangle Air-shed Priority Area as part of the National Air Quality Monitoring Network. The Highveld area was declared as a second national air quality priority area. The department developed the long-term mitigation scenario for climate change, which is a step towards formulating the country’s policy on climate change. A review of the emission permits of industries responsible for 80% of atmospheric emissions was initiated. The number of trained and registered environmental management inspectors has increased to 877. The target was 750 by the end of the 2007/8 financial year.

Challenges regarding basic waste management services across the country were determined and a strategy was developed to address them. The preparatory work required for the eradication of the backlogs around the permitting of waste disposal sites took longer than expected and, as a result, no permitting was undertaken. The 30% backlog reduction target for 2008/09 takes this into account. The Waste Management Bill is currently in the Parliamentary process.

Biodiversity and Conservation

As part of the implementation of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (Act No 10 of 2004), the department developed various enabling tools such as the Regulations for Threatened or Protected Species, Regulations on Bio-prospecting, Access and Benefit Sharing,

Norms and Standards for the Management of Elephants and an Environmental Risk Assessment Framework for Genetically Modified Organisms.

Two cross-boundary access facilities in transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs) were established in the Kgalagadi and !Ai-!Ais/RIchtersveld TFCAs. TFCA investment and infrastructure development programmes and marketing plans were developed and endorsed by the relevant SADC ministers. Mokala National Park was declared as a new national park. Five world heritage sites were declared in terms of the World Heritage Convention Act and UNESCO approved the Cape Biosphere Reserve in the Western Cape. Some 4 572 schoolchildren visited nine national parks and 273 learners completed training associated with the national parks visited as part of the Kids in Parks programme.

Marine and Coastal Management

As a first step in the development of the marine aquaculture sector, a policy framework has been developed. The department also published a management policy for seabirds and shorebirds. Marion Island, Gough Island and SANAE (Antarctica) relief voyages were all successfully carried out. Research surveys were also completed in all the major fisheries. After the allocation of the long-term fishing rights in about 20 fisheries for terms varying from eight to 15 years, a policy for rights transfer was gazetted during 2007/08. About 68 notices had been issued in terms of Section 28 of the Marine Living Resources Act by January 2008. As part of the efforts to rebuild depleted stocks, the department developed and implemented a strategy to prioritise the protection of hake and abalone during 2007/08. The Integrated Coastal Management Bill is currently in the Parliamentary process.


6DEAT ANNUAL REVIEW 2007/08

Tourism

The Tourism Sector Skills Plan was finalised in collaboration with the Department of Labour. Work has also commenced on the development of a comprehensive Tourism Human Resources Development Strategy. A database of unemployed tourism graduates was established and developmental opportunities are linked to the database. Some 138 tourist guides were trained and registered and 41 practising tourist guides received French language training. A total of 41 international learning opportunities were created, mainly in foreign languages training and experiential learning in the tourism sector.

The Airlift Strategy, which will inform bilateral negotiations on increasing frequencies in order to improve accessibility to South Africa as a destination was approved by Cabinet. Previous negotiations achieved four additional flights to France and two more were requested from Mozambique, which are priority markets. The number of days required to obtain a South African visa for India, China and Nigeria was reduced from 10 to five days, which is a major step in the reduction of tourism channel restriction.

The support to SMMEs in terms of transactional linkages trough the Tourism Enterprise Promotion Company (TEPCO) has increased by almost 30% from 993 in 2006/07 to 1 300 in 2007/08. The number of graded accommodation establishments increased from 4 905 to 5 484. The grading is also linked to assisting SMMEs to gain recognition as official accommodation providers for the 2010 World Cup. Provinces adopted the national tourist safety and awareness strategy and a closer collaboration has been established with the SAPS in this regard. The department has obtained commitment from other government agencies to procure from tourism enterprises that are BEE compliant.

Sector Services and International Relations

The South Africa Environment Outlook was published during 2007/08. The document presents a balanced and broad-based report on the state of the South African environment. An environmental sector plan was completed, committing provincial counterparts and all public entities reporting to the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism to a common set of sector deliverables and performance indicators. The plan ushered in a common programme and budget structure to guide strategy, planning and resource allocations across the environmental sector. The department also participated in Infrastructure Development Programme (IDP) reviews in 24 district municipalities and six metropolitan municipalities and 42 community environmental workers were deployed in district municipalities.

At a multilateral level, South Africa, through the department, continued to play a leading role in the negotiations around sustainable development, chemicals management, fisheries management, climate change, biodiversity and related heritage issues. The outcomes of

NOSIPHO JEZILE


most of these negotiations reflected South Africa’s negotiation objectives and positions.

At a bilateral level, enhanced south-south cooperation with Argentina, Botswana, Chile, Egypt, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Nigeria were achieved. Furthermore, South Africa has intensified cooperation with China on environment and tourism. In India/Brazil/South Africa (IBSA) engagements, environment and tourism issues have been elevated and prioritised and an IBSA working group has been established on environment and climate change. The department raised a total of about US$35 million from bilateral and multilateral donors for the implementation of agreed environmental projects over the next four years.

Programme implementation

Some 29 277 temporary and 430 permanent jobs were created through the implementation of projects for the

environment and culture sector of the Expanded Public Words Programme (EPWP). A total of 178 619 training days were created in the process and 523 SMMEs were used as implementation agents.

Conclusion

I would like to express my warm appreciation to the Minister and the Deputy Minister for their guidance and leadership in the implementation of the departmental strategy. A word of thanks should also go to the former Director-General, Ms Pam Yako, for her efforts in driving the implementation of the departmental strategy until the end of February 2008. I would like to express my appreciation to the staff and stakeholders of the department for their fruitful engagements. Let us seek to continuously improve on the gains already made.

Nosipho JezileActing Director-General of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

7 DEAT ANNUAL REVIEW 2007/08


98

Our mission

Our mission is to lead sustainable development of our environment and tourism for a better life for all, by the following:

‡ Creating conditions for sustainable tourism growth and development‡ Promoting the sustainable development and conservation of our natural resources‡ Protecting and improving the quality and safety of the environment‡ Promoting a global sustainable development agenda‡ Transformation of the department, statutory bodies and economic sector for which we

are responsible

Our values

We are guided by the following values:

‡ People-centered (human capital management, diversity)‡ Integrity (professionalism quality, service excellence, honesty, transparency, trust)‡ Performance (productivity, efficiency and effectiveness, innovation, continuous

improvements)‡ Sustainability (impact, return on investment, continuity, knowledge management,

inter-operability)

Our vision is a prosperous and equitable society living in harmony with its natural resources.

&vision

mission




‡ Administration and Support programme: This branch provides strategic leadership, corporate services, cooperative governance and information management.

‡ Environmental Quality and Protection programme: This branch develops and implements policies and measures to protect and improve the quality and safety of the environment to give effect to the right of all South Africans to an environment that is not harmful to their health and wellbeing.

‡ Marine and Coastal Management programme: This branch promotes the development and management of South Africa’s marine and coastal environments in a way that ensures the sustainability of the marine resources, while maximising economic opportunities and employment creation.

‡ Tourism programme: This branch creates conditions for sustainable tourism growth and development for the benefit of all South Africans.

‡ Biodiversity and Conservation programme: This branch promotes the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources to improve economic growth and poverty alleviation.

‡ Sector Services and International Relations programme: This branch provides planning, coordination and business management services, manages the implementation of poverty alleviation projects, and manages the department’s international cooperation obligations and commitments.

The work of the department is also supported by the following statutory bodies: South African Tourism, the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA), the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), South African National Parks (SANParks), iSimangal-iso Wetland Park and the South African Weather Service (SAWS).

This annual review reflects the work of the departmental programmes and statutory bodies in the 2007/08 financial year, their collective progress, the challenges they experienced, as well as their priorities for the next financial year.

The department’s mandated responsibilities are performed within the framework of the following six integrated programmes:

DEAT in a nutshelloverview


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ANNUAL REVIEW 2007/08 · 3 DEAT ANNUAL REVIEW 2007/08. Great strides have been made in establishing the legal instruments for dealing with waste, air pollution and the integrated